Painful musculoskeletal conditions, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, require evaluation from a qualified physician or dentist who can offer treatment options. There is no standard treatment method. Patients are often directed to find relief using a tailored regimen of one or more of the following options:

• Rest for the jaw.
  
  
• Application of heat to tender areas (thermotherapy). This may include ultrasound therapy, a method of applying deep heat to tissues using high-frequency sound waves.
  
  
• Application of cold packs or ice bags to tender areas (cryotherapy).
  
  
• Physical therapy. The treatment of physical dysfunction or injury with the use of special exercises, techniques and devices.
  
  
• A diet of soft foods.
  
  
• Stress reduction.
  
  
• Low doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for two weeks.
  
  
• Anti-anxiety medications (anxiolytics) and muscle relaxants.
  
  
• Injection therapy. Injections of corticosteroids may reduce pain and improve the jaw joints’ range of motion in cases caused by arthritis. In addition, trigger point injections of medication directly into a specific location may relieve pain.
  
  
• Interocclusal appliances (e.g., a plastic biteplate that helps align the upper and lower jaws or a night guard to prevent nighttime teeth grinding).
  
  
• Behavior modification (e.g., biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy).
  
  
• Arthrocentesis. Removal of fluid from a joint.
  
  
• Arthroscopy. The direct visualization of the interior of a joint by means of an arthroscope inserted into the joint through a small incision in the skin. An arthroscope is a small tubular instrument that contains a light and small camera attached to a close-circuit monitor that displays an enlarged real-time image and can be used in minimally invasive surgery.

These therapies often provide at least some measure of relief for the painful symptoms, either alone or in various combinations. The specifics of a particular patient will help guide treatment options. If the patient does not respond to any less-invasive treatments, surgery to realign the jaw, a joint replacement (arthroplasty) or joint implant may be recommended in severe cases. The surgical replacement of jaw joints is risky and may cause permanent damage to the jaw. Dental surgery to alter a patient’s bite is irreversible and may not offer the patient any pain relief.

There are no known ways to prevent TMJ disorder beyond maintaining good oral hygiene and good posture, wearing protective face masks during contact sports and avoiding habits such as nail biting, chewing on pens or pencils, eating hard food, or excessive gum chewing. It should be noted that experts disagree on whether bad oral habits are a possible cause of this condition.

Maintaining a pain diary when symptoms flare up will help a patient monitor the condition over time. It will also help to detail specific information about the pain that may help the physician determine appropriate treatment options.